Tuesday 18 February 2020 will and should go down as one of the most shameful days in the history of parliamentary politics in the new South Africa.

1. MEDIA STATEMENT | SHAME ON PARLIAMENTARIANSTRIVIALISINGWOMEN ABUSE
Tuesday18 February2020 will andshouldgodownas one of the most shameful daysinthe history
of parliamentarypoliticsinthe newSouthAfrica.
In whatwas supposedtobe a debate of PresidentCyril Ramaphosa’sState of the NationAddress,
SouthAfricanswere subjectedtomudslingingmatchbetweenadultmenwhotrivialisedandused
womenabuse andgender-basedviolence asa political weapontoshame eachother.
Accusationsandcounteraccusationsbymembersof the rulingAfricanNational Congress(ANC) and
oppositionEconomicFreedomFighters(EFF) respectivelywentflyingabout,withthe name of the
Presidentandhislate formerwife beingmentioned.
In a countrybesetbyproblemsof rape,abuse andmurderof womeneveryday,itisdespicable that
lawmakers –the verypeople we expecttosave the countryfromthismalaise – saw it fitto further
insultandabuse womenwiththeirloose tongues.
Future Kings – a mentorshipinitiative aimedattrainingteenage boystoresponsiblemanhood –is
completelydisappointedthatleadersof society,fromwhommanytake inspiration,couldstoopso
lowand deliveracollective insulttoall womenof SouthAfrica.
What the nationobservediscompletelyvile,harmful andshameful.All thesepoliticiansguiltyof
these actsand those that were cheeringthemon,mustapologisetoeverySouthAfrican,butmost
importantlytoall womenespeciallythose thatatsome pointor anotherhave fallenvictimto
womenabuse andgender-basedviolence.
There isno honourin strippingthe dignityof womenforpolitical gain.Womenabuse isnota joke.
Gender-basedviolence iseatingthe soul of SouthAfrica.Ourpoliticiansshoulddobetter.
ENDS...
Attribute quotestoRamsMabote,Chief VolunteerOfficeratFuture Kings